This week's series of articles on regional water issues by Shannon Casas and Jeff Gill is one of the finest series to grace The Times' pages. I have had the pleasure of working with these two a little as they prepared the series, and I noticed that they have a couple of things in common: They are interested in facts, and they avoid sensationalizing their stories. Kudos to them and to The Times for a fine job.

There are many problems in America that deeply concern me. That problem is school meals. The government, through the Food and Drug Administration, has ignorantly suggested processed foods be served in school meals. Are they not aware that processed foods are not healthy? Do they even care?

As referenced in Jeff Gill's article last Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a new rule clarifying which streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands are protected. This new rule clarifies that seasonal bodies of water, those being mostly streams and wetlands, are protected under the Clean Water Act.

Well, what do you know? A reporter for Channel 11 news caught up with some Georgia legislators holed up in a swanky corporate resort holding private meetings where laws are made behind closed doors in Savannah, and also in Las Vegas, Nev., and protected by armed guards. These legislators, along with lobbyists from corporations, vote on legislation apparently to give some corporations an advantage in the marketplace.

After every lie, every crime against the American people, every crime against the world. After opening Americas borders to terrorists, criminals and beggars. After allying with al-Qaida and other sworn enemies of the American people. After bankrupting the U.S. government. After impoverishing the American middle class. After making a mockery of the U.S. Constitution. And after way more that we can list here, both Georgia U.S. senators, David Perdue and Johnny Isakson, trust President Barack Obama to hand U.S. sovereignty over to a corporate world government.

After reading Douglas Young's guest column Monday, I have a few thoughts to share. Dr. Young once described his role as moderator of the Politically Incorrect Club at the Gainesville campus of the University of North Georgia as that of "devil's advocate." I wonder if this concept governs the tone of his recent article.

Wal-Mart's new store on Thompson Bridge might have friendly words "Neighborhood Market" on its sign, but "Neighborhood Racket" would be a better name. A racket is an organized immoral activity for extortion; a dishonest scheme, trick, business or activity.

To the families of military veterans, men and women from every branch of the United States military and Merchant Marines on whose shoulders we now stand tall: We pause to remember that they paid the ultimate price for our freedom in country, community and family, safety and security.

Can you imagine what this country would do if confronted with a disease that caused 32,000 deaths in 2013 and 450 deaths so far this year in Georgia? We would expect all levels of government to mobilize, demanding billions of dollars to find a cure and a plan for prevention.